HYDERABAD: The DGCA has ordered a probe into Wednesday’s incident on a Goa-Hyderabad SpiceJet flight where passengers had a close shave after smoke filled the cabin mid-journey, forcing a “full emergency landing” in Hyderabad. While refraining from sharing details about the cause of the smoke, SpiceJet maintained that the “Q400 aircraft landed safely at its destination on October 12” and that all “passengers were safely disembarked”.
One passenger was injured and was rushed to the medical centre at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, said airport sources. “She had a minor injury and complained of breathlessness. She was later shifted to a private hospital in Jubilee Hills for some time before being discharged,” a source said.
Recounting the ordeal inside SG 3735, passengers said they were scared for their lives. “They (the crew members) told us to pray to God… pray for our families… It was mortifying. Many of my co-passengers panicked and started shrieking,” said Srikanth M, an IT professional from Hyderabad, sharing photographs and videos taken inside the aircraft. He was on his first-ever air trip with friends.
The DGCA had recently extended the 50% cap on SpiceJet flights by another month. Reportedly, the airline has seen at least eight aircraft-related incidents this year.
“Something happened in the washroom. We heard the crew talk in hushed tones. In another 20 minutes, there was smoke all around us,” said Anil P, a private company employee. “Soon, the lights came on and the crew asked us to stop talking, not to leave our seats.” Another flyer said the crew asked people to “jump and run” as soon as the emergency doors opened on landing. “The airline staff forced us to delete videos and photos of the incident… they snatched my phone when I refused,” said Srikanth.
(With inputs from Saurabh Sinha in Delhi)
One passenger was injured and was rushed to the medical centre at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, said airport sources. “She had a minor injury and complained of breathlessness. She was later shifted to a private hospital in Jubilee Hills for some time before being discharged,” a source said.
Recounting the ordeal inside SG 3735, passengers said they were scared for their lives. “They (the crew members) told us to pray to God… pray for our families… It was mortifying. Many of my co-passengers panicked and started shrieking,” said Srikanth M, an IT professional from Hyderabad, sharing photographs and videos taken inside the aircraft. He was on his first-ever air trip with friends.
The DGCA had recently extended the 50% cap on SpiceJet flights by another month. Reportedly, the airline has seen at least eight aircraft-related incidents this year.
“Something happened in the washroom. We heard the crew talk in hushed tones. In another 20 minutes, there was smoke all around us,” said Anil P, a private company employee. “Soon, the lights came on and the crew asked us to stop talking, not to leave our seats.” Another flyer said the crew asked people to “jump and run” as soon as the emergency doors opened on landing. “The airline staff forced us to delete videos and photos of the incident… they snatched my phone when I refused,” said Srikanth.
(With inputs from Saurabh Sinha in Delhi)